The ban indicates no protests or demonstration can be held in parts of Kenya's three largest cities - Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu - until further notice by the concerned appropriate authorities.

Kenya's Interior Minister cited with some exemplary words like
"imminent danger" of breach of peace and law & order issues
of public at large, and seriously warned that under existing laws,
all other protests and demonstration elsewhere in the country needed
prior police permission, including that organizers would be held
criminally liable for any offence or fault by any participant like a
criminal offence done by any dreaded criminal.

In
Focus

Kenya needs to lift its newly-born ban on protests in important
cities, end police brutality during the period of demonstrations or
mass hesitation, and halt attacks on the judiciary of the nation and
civil society along with many non political organizations in the
tense run-up to presidential elections likely to be held on 26
October that a group of UN experts has urged and appealed.

"It
is precisely when political tensions are high that governments should
do their utmost to let people express their grievances and to protect
their rights. Participants in peaceful protests are exercising and
defending their legitimate right to voice their demands and express
dissent," the UN experts said.

"Even before this ban was
imposed, we were witnessing a pattern of police brutality and
excessive use of force against protesters, as well as consistent
harassment of judges and threats to civil society," the experts
even added with. "Any unnecessary, excessive or otherwise
arbitrary use of force by law enforcement officials is incompatible
with the absolute prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment."

The UN experts noted down some earlier
protests had been ruined by violent incidents, but UN authorities
appealed and urged the government to lift the ban without further
delay as it is under current situation neither necessary nor
equivalent and to ensure that security forces need to initiate
dialogue and non violent ways at the time of responding to any
violence caused by any protest or mass hesitation.

"Kenya is
facing a choice. We urge it to choose to uphold its constitution and
pursue strengthening of its democracy, to avoid deepening political
divisions and exacerbating tensions," the experts remarked.

The
experts in this regard also said that there was presently an alleged
climate of immunity for legal enforcement officials despite the
initiating of several investigations, including one into the state of
violence that followed by the 8 August general election, when around
10-15 numbers of people were killed and many injured as a result of
brutal police action in a inhuman way.

"The apparent gap in
accountability is often caused by a lack of cooperation from the
Kenya Police Service," the experts put forward.

They spotlighted a recent incident that occurred on 28 September
in which 27 students and staff at the University of Nairobi were
injured when the police used tear gas as if they were anti-socials,
beat them with wooden clubs like common thieves, robbed and
threatened them with sexual violence like a bunch of demons.

Just
after some days on 2nd October, police desperately used tear gas in a
nursery in Nyalenda, injuring seriously at least three children and
also in some other parts of the country protestors have also met with
violent response from security forces.

"We call for a
prompt, independent and thorough investigation into all allegations
of police brutality," the experts told.

"Impunity fosters
a culture of violence and mistrust, the opposite of what Kenya needs
as it prepares for a repeat of the presidential elections," the
experts told.

They applauded Kenyan individuals and parties
for addressing complaints and grievances through relevant judicial
system of the nation,but expressed serious concern over repeated
attacks against individual judges and the judiciary in general and
attempts to limit the courts' role in hearing election-related
petitions by the common men in the country.

The experts also
expressed concern over reports that the government had suspended, or
was considering suspending, the activities of the International
Development Law Organisation, an intergovernmental body which has
been providing vital non-partisan support to the judiciary and other
parts of the Government to promote the rule of law.

"Preserving
the independence of the judiciary and constitutionally mandated
institutions is of paramount importance as Kenya works towards
delivering free, peaceful and fair presidential elections," the
experts stressed.

"Preserving the role of civil society is
equally important. Robust checks and balances are the prerogative of
every democracy. It is therefore imperative that Kenya implement the
2013 Public Benefits Organizations Act as soon as possible."

The
UN experts condemned fake information being spreaded on social media
seeking to dismantle human rights organizations, including members of
the Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu initiative which works for free and fair
elections.

"This is unacceptable and must immediately
stop," the experts said. "Over the years, we have repeatedly
raised concerns with the Government of Kenya about shrinking civil
society space and attacks on individual human rights
defenders.

"There has been no response from the Kenyan
Government to at least 18 communications in the last three years. The
Government now seems to have embarked on an effort to constrain even
further freedoms of association, expression and opinion."